Monkey & Bunny is the fourth song from The Residents & Renaldo & The Loaf's collaborative album 'Title In Limbo.' The album's cover art seemingly is based on imagery from the song.
History[]
When Renaldo & The Loaf visited Ralph Records in March of 1981, to help write and produce a short film to promote Songs For Swinging Larvae, the duo of course met with their contemporaries and heroes, The Residents. The Residents were working on Mark of the Mole at the time, but of course wanting to seize the opportunity of having the six of them together, decided to write and record an album during the four days before Renaldo & The Loaf had to return to England.
On Day One, the group recorded a 34 minute jam tape, which was given slight overdubs on the second day. The suite was dubbed '4 Daze,' but no further work went on in the group's last 2 days together.
Two years later, whilst The Residents were touring The Mole Show through Europe, the sextet met up backstage at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, where conversation one again turned to the 4 Daze suite. Deciding they really aught to complete it, they all scheduled to re-meet in San Francisco in September, where they would craft the tape into a ready to release album.
Unfortunately, David Janssen was unable to book time off, and so instead recorded tape loops for Brian Poole to use during the sessions.[1]
The group decided to adapt the second song on the tape, 'Long Song,' into 'Monkey & Bunny.' The song features The Residents on lead vocals, with Poole performing backing vocals.
Later Uses[]
The song quickly became a classic, and has been featured on three separate 'Best of' compilations; Ralph Before 84, Hell!, and 80 Aching Orphans.
In 1988 the song was sampled by "Absent Music" for their track "The Monkey House".[2]
An abridged version of the song was performed during the 'Eyeball Show,' tour, and was expanded to the full length version by the time of the 13th Anniversary Show.
For the group's 20th anniversary album, Our Finest Flowers, The Residents re-recorded the song as 'Jungle Bunny;' incorporating instrumental elements from Picnic in the Jungle. The album 'RMX' claims to feature a remix of said track, but it is in fact Picnic in the Jungle.
Lyrics[]
There was a little man Who ran a shoe shine stand Everyday the man would sweep Clutter from the busy street
He seldom said a word That anybody heard There was something in his face That could never be erased
Like a broken pup He looked up from the cup He drank his morning coffee in And wiped the dribbles from his chin
And when his eyes met mine, He made a little whine He came within an inch or two And then he whispered "I hate you"
"How did he know?"
"Once I had some pets And let them starve to death It was a funny little monkey And a big white Easter Bunny They lived in little cages And sometimes in rages I would turn them upside down And drag the monkey all around"
13th Anniversary Version
What About A Shoe-Shine? What About A Shoe-Shine? What About A Shoe-Shine? Want A Shiny Shoe? What About A Shoe-Shine? For You?
There was a little man Who ran a shoe shine stand Everyday the man would sweep Clutter from the busy street
He seldom said a word That anybody heard There was something in his face That could never be erased
Like a broken pup He looked up from the cup He drank his morning coffee And wiped the dribbles from his chin
And when his eyes met mine, He made a little whine 'Came within an inch or two Then he whispered "I hate you"
Tell Me Straight Tell Me Straight Tell Me Straight Tell Me Straight Tell Me Straight
"How did he know?"
"Once I had some pets And let them starve to death It was a funny little monkey And a big white Easter Bunny They lived in little cages And sometimes in rages I would turn them upside down And.. and drag the monkey all around"
'Jungle Bunny' Version
Once there was a little man And they called him Shoe-Shine Sam Everyday the man would sweep Clutter from the busy street
Seldom did he said a word At least that anybody heard Well, there was something in his face That could never be erased
Could it be true I understand the meaning of that shoe-shine man? Could it be true I understand the meaning of that shoe-shine man?
Like a little paper pup He looked up from the broken cup He drank his morning coffee in And wiped the dribbles from his chin
Then I felt his eyes met mine, And he made a little whine He came within an inch or two And then he whispered "I hate you"
Could it be true I understand the meaning of that shoe-shine man?
"Once I had some pets And I let them starve to death It was a silly monkey And a big white Easter Bunny They lived in little cages And sometimes in rages I would turn them upside down And drag the bunny all around"
Releases[]
- Title In Limbo (1983) [Version 1]
- Ralph Before '84 (1984) [Version 1]
- Hell! (1986) [Version 1]
- The Eyeball Show Live In Japan (1986) [Version 2]
- Live In The USA! 13th Anniversary Tour (1986) [Version 3]
- 13th Anniversary Show - Live In Holland (1987) [Version 4]
- Not Available / Selections From Title In Limbo (1988) [Version 1]
- Our Finest Flowers (1992) [Version 5]
- Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town (2003) [Version 2]
- RMX (2009) [Version 6]
- 13th Anniversary Show - Ritz NY - Jan 16, 1986 (2010) [Version 7]
- 80 Aching Orphans (2017) [Version 1]
- 4 Daze (2017) [Version 8]